📍16 Best Gold Coast Lookouts In The City & Hinterland. (2024.)
WANT TO DISCOVER THE BEST GOLD COAST LOOKOUTS?
Australia’s Gold Coast is a gorgeous coastal city revered for its long, golden beaches, towering skyscrapers and spectacular hinterland. As someone who lives close to this vibrant destination and has for most of their lives, there’s nothing I love more than complimenting a fun and fulfilling day out in this coastal paradise than by going to one of its lookouts and appreciating the urban and natural landscape from these gorgeous viewpoints.
Luckily, there are many! So whether it is the skyline, the coastline or the ridgeline you want to see, enjoy this comprehensive list of Gold Coast Lookouts that includes everything from the city to the hinterland. (And a few more truly unique ways to see this spectacular place too!)
👉 My top 3 picks for the best views on the Gold Coast.
- City: Skypoint’s Eagle’s Nest.
- Coastal: Tumgum Lookout, Burleigh Head National Park.
- Hinterland: Best Of All Lookout, Springbrook National Park.
Planning Your Trip? Use My Favourite Resources!
Tours/Experiences: I recommend Viator.
Accommodation: I recommend Booking.com.
Renting Vehicles: I recommend RentalCars.com.
Best Gold Coast City Lookouts.
The Gold Coast might seem like it wouldn’t have many lookouts along the coast, but you’d be pleasantly surprised. Not only are there numerous viewpoints between Surfers Paradise & Coolangatta that showcase the city’s beautiful beaches, but all of them are fantastic places to watch the whales breach the surface during whale watching season.
1. Skypoint/ Q1, Broadbeach.
Skypoint is the cream of the crop for best lookouts on the Gold Coast, and it isn’t hard to see why. It sits at the top level of the Q1, which, at 322.5m, is the tallest building in the country.
The observation deck provides spectacular 360-degree views of the gorgeous coastal city in all its glory and is breathtaking during the day, sunset and night. In addition to the unbeatable scenery, there is a restaurant up there, making Skypoint the ultimate romantic place to dine.
Furthermore, it’s also a great place to experience some mild Gold Coast thrills. Skypoint Climb takes willing participants outside the building to the open-aired eagle’s nest, where their reward is unparalleled views of Australia’s most famous coastal city.
👉 For unforgettable views from the best lookout on the Gold Coast, click here for a solo ticket to the observation deck, or here for a family pass.
👉 But for the ultimate experience, a Skypoint Climb is the way the go.
Follow this link for a day tour or this one for a twilight tour.
2. Tumgun Lookout & Jebbribillum Lookout, Burleigh Head.
(Burleigh Head National Park.)
Along the coast, there’s not a whole lot left of what was naturally there before civilisation came knocking. But that’s not to say there isn’t any. While Burleigh Head National Park is only a tiny remnant rainforest, it’s got one of what I consider the best lookouts on the Gold Coast and another one around the other side to boot.
Tumgun Lookout lies at the top of the headland and provides breathtaking views across the southern coastline and the gorgeous azure blue colours of Tallebudgera Creek. It’s a stunning visual but it’s not the only one.
Jebbribillum Lookout has lovely views north of the Gold Coast skyline, while the park’s lower Oceanview Trail also showcases beautiful scenery in this direction.
👉 Hot Tip: Make sure to pop into Talleburgera Creek as it is a fantastic place to go wild swimming. It’s especially great for kids, paddleboarders, kayakers and those who aren’t strong swimmers because it’s sheltered from the ocean.
3. Elephant Rock, Currumbin.
Further down the coast lies some enormous rocks jutting prominently out of the beach landscape. There’s Currumbin Rock and Elephant Rock, but only the latter has a lookout. Unusual by itself, it’s even more peculiar because at the base of it is the Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club. Well, at least you’re not far from a bite to eat if you’re hungry after the arduous climb up the flight of stairs.
I’m kidding, it’s not that strenuous, but it does provide some lovely sweeping views of the beachside. And if you love plane spotting, this lookout is second to none, as Elephant Rock is near the flight path of the planes as they take off and land at the Gold Coast Airport just down the road.
👉 Hot Tip: Visit Elephant Rock on April 25th & witness the poignant and powerful Anzac Day Ceremony commemorating all Australians killed during wartime.
4. Point Danger/ Lighthouse, Coolangatta.
Point Danger is three things. Visually, it has an unusually shaped lighthouse. Geographically, it’s where the Queensland and New South Wales borders meet at the ocean. And most importantly for this list, it’s a fantastic lookout.
And because it lies where it does, it’s delightfully the only lookout on this list with beautiful views overlooking two states. The Queensland side has scenery of the popular surfing spot, Snapper Rocks at the base of the cliff and a sweeping panoramic of the coast northward. Meanwhile, looking toward New South Wales has the picturesque Duranbah Beach and the sea wall jutting out into the ocean.
And with that, it caps on the end of the best Gold Coast lookouts along the coast. Time to head inland.
👉 Related Post: When Is The Best Time To Visit The Gold Coast?
Best Gold Coast Hinterland Lookouts.
Behind the skyscrapers and dazzling lights of the city, the Gold Coast hinterland is full of natural wonders. Mountains, cliffs, and waterfalls are plentiful up here, but, luckily, numerous lookouts take in the breathtaking scenery.
Mt Tamborine.
5. Rotary Lookout & Rob Sowter Lookout.
Along the top of Mt Tamborine lie two beautiful viewpoints.
Rotary Lookout is the northernmost of the two and is a formal lookout. It’s somewhat easy to miss, and parking is limited, but it has stunning views looking westward across the plains of the Scenic Rim.
Lying further south, Rob Sowter Lookout is hard to miss as it’s just an open space devoid of trees. It’s designed that way as it’s a hang gliding and paragliding launch slope. (Although there are no guarantees, the best time to see the high fliers is on weekends if the wind is favourable.)
But that doesn’t mean no one else can enjoy it, which is good because it’s the perfect spot to watch the setting sun. It’s movie romantic.
6. Skywalk.
A beautiful way to see Mt Tamborine’s rainforests, especially for families, is via the Skywalk. The 1.5km walk starts with forest floor trails before elevating walkers into the upper canopy via 300m of steel bridges and a 40m cantilever bridge.
It’s a delightful way to experience Mt Tamborine’s rainforest, allowing visitors to see it from a unique perspective. Spot some birds and listen to their choruses as you explore their habitat.
Before finishing up, visit the eco gallery and gift shop and extend your time at this lovely Gold Coast attraction.
7. Hinze Dam.
The Hinze Dam is the main water source that supplies the Gold Coast. It’s also a fantastic destination for outdoor activities, such as picnicking, BBQing, walking and biking.
There’s also a lovely lookout at the base of the dam of the imposing spillway. And although it’s not technically an official viewpoint, walking or cycling across the dam wall is a beautiful way to take in the picturesque scenery.
Lastly, Waterside Park on the other side of the dam is another beautiful place to go for a stroll and observe the serene lake.
👉 Hot Tip: For those who enjoy biking, cycle across the dam wall and you’ll find the Peter Hallinan Mountain Bike Precinct.
Springbrook National Park.
Up in the hinterland, there’s no place better to unwind in nature than at Springbrook National Park, where numerous walking trails across the three sections invite people to discover its beauty..
And because the main section of the extensive park is on a stunning plateau, it means Springbrook is home to many of Gold Coast’s best lookouts.
8. Wunburra Lookout.
The first lookout visitors to Springbrook National Park will come across is Wunburra Lookout.
Sitting by the road shortly after it splits into single lanes, the scenery from the easily accessible viewpoint is picturesque and lovely. They are of Springbrook Valley, and on a good day, the Gold Coast skyline is visible way off in the distance.
9. Purling Brook Falls Lookout.
Purling Brook Falls is one of Springbrook’s best-known waterfalls, but those who don’t have time to embark on the 4km circuit that leads to the base of the falls don’t have to miss out entirely.
There’s a lookout along the trail not far from the Tallanbana Picnic Area, which showcases the top of Purling Brook Falls. Watch as Little Nerang Creek cascades over the rocks before plunging 100m into the gorgeous valley below.
10. Canyon Lookout.
Canyon Lookout is another lookout visitors can encounter, but this one is wheelchair accessible, so people with limited ability can also enjoy the breathtaking natural landscape.
The viewpoint showcases the stunning cliffs that make up the eastern side of the Springbrook Plateau and features two spectacular waterfalls: Rainbow Falls and Twin Falls on the far right. The skyscrapers and buildings of the Gold Coast are also observable from the viewpoint on a clear day, most notably Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta.
If you come at sunrise, it’s even more beautiful, making it one of the Gold Coast hinterland’s best easy-access lookouts.
👉 Hot Tip: Canyon Lookout also forms part of the Twin Falls Circuit, Venture either side of the lookout and discover numerous other viewpoints along the top of the trail.
11. Goomoolahra Lookout & Boojerahla Lookout.
At the very end of Springbrook Road lie a couple more stunning viewpoints along the same trail. Goomoolahra Lookout and Boojerahla Lookout are only a short distance from the car park and share similar views, but both are worth taking a look at.
Goomoolahra is the closest of the two and overlooks the stunning waterfall of the same name. It’s also wheelchair accessible. Meanwhile, Boojerahla lies at the end of the trail slightly further along and shares stunning views of the heavily forested mountainscape below. It’s a beautiful, rugged, wild and peaceful sight.
12. Best Of All Lookout.
The last of Springbrook National Park lookouts is the best. Well, at least that’s what it’s called. You be the judge because even though I’ve been four times, I haven’t seen it yet, because I was trying to catch the sunrise or sunset and it’s been foggy or raining whenever I went.
Luckily, getting to the Best Of All Lookout is only a 600m return walk from the end of Repeater Station Road, but the scenery is epic. Peer across the border and see the dormant remains of the rugged Tweed Caldera and the revered Mt Warning.
Sacred to the Aboriginals, the distinctive peak is the result of magma hardening with the vents of a volcano known as a volcanic plug while the landscape around it eroded. Equally fascinating, it is the first place in Australia that sees sunlight.
Because of this, it’s pretty spectacular to see in the morning, but it’s also rare. Springbrook is a rainforest with lots of precipitation, so it’s often foggy as I mentioned. But come later in the day, rather than just during golden hours and you may be able to see that the views are reportedly just as beautiful.
Best Hidden Gold Coast Lookouts.
13. Mick Schamburg Park Lookout.
About halfway between Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta at the border is one of the Gold Coast’s best city lookouts but probably the least known. Mick Schamburg Park Lookout sits just off the Gold Coast Highway and has incredible uninterrupted views north and south along the coastline.
Both have stunning views of long beaches, but the north has the Surfers Paradise skyline in the distance, while the south has beautiful views across the beach to Burleigh Head National Park. While it’s somewhat awkward to get to and parking is sometimes hard, it’s such a beautiful lookout and well worth the effort to get there. Needless to say, it’s a fantastic place for sunrise photography.
👉 Related Post: 21 Best Beaches On The Gold Coast.
14. Kirra Hill Lookout.
A fantastic hidden lookout on the Gold Coast is Kirra Hill Lookout. Tucked away behind the beach between Kirra and Coolangatta, the views from up here peer across to Snapper Rocks.
It’s a gorgeous spot and the perfect place to watch the sunrise and watch surfers having fun on the waves throughout the day. If you’re lucky, you may even spot some famous faces. World champion Mick Fanning is one such person who loves surfing up a storm here.
👉 Related Post: Best Things To Do On The Gold Coast.
15. The Panorama.
While you’re out at the beautiful Hinze Dam exploring its lovely vantage points, include time to go to one of the best hidden Gold Coast car lookouts.
Although not an official viewpoint, the Panorama Lookout is a stunning spot hiding away within a residential area of Tallai. It is well worth the detour thanks to its breathtaking views, which overlook virtually the city’s entirety, including the gorgeous skyscrapers, the ocean and winding rivers.
And because it’s so far out of the way and not many people know about it, you’ll likely have this lovely place all to yourself.
16. Tom Beatson Outlook.
Although it’s not technically on the Gold Coast or even in Queensland, this next spot is way too incredible not to include.
Tom Beatson Outlook sits just south of the Queensland/New South Wales border in the picturesque town of Tweed Heads. Located on Razorback Hill in a densely suburban area, this hidden lookout, a short drive from the Point Danger Lighthouse, has three magnificent viewpoints overlooking both states.
The two places peering over into Queensland showcase the beauty of the city and state’s southernmost suburb, Coolangatta and the glistening ocean. Meanwhile, the side looking across New South Wales puts Tweed Heads front and centre, with the jagged peaks of the Great Dividing Range, including the distinctive Mt Warning, filling out the background. It’s also right by the Gold Coast Airport, which makes it great for planespotting. You needn’t get out of your vehicle to appreciate the view. Just park nose in on the south side and enjoy the breathtaking view from the car.
Best of all, because the view is of urban areas, it’s also a great place to visit at night when all the city lights come on, making Tom Beatson Outlook one of the best all-around lookouts of the Gold Coast (even though it’s technically not on the Gold Coast.).
Other Ways To See The Gold Coast Landscape.
Lookouts are beautiful, but they aren’t the only way to see the landscape, especially on the Gold Coast, where numerous tour operators offer a range of scenic flights over the spectacular coastal city suitable to people of all tastes.
1. Hot Air Balloon.
Who doesn’t love a quiet start to the day and taking in some breathtaking scenery? For those who said yes, there’s no better way to do that than taking to the skies in a hot air balloon. It’s a magnificent way to see the Gold Coast. Soar over the city or the hinterland and see what the world looks like when a new day dawns.
What makes the activity so special is how slow the balloon moves as it allows riders to appreciate the landscape before them, making it one of its best attributes.
Ballooning is also a highly wind-dependent activity, so no two flights are the same. Every group gets a unique experience each time and is the reason everyone should experience it once in their lifetimes.
2. Scenic Helicopter Flight.
Another beautiful way to experience the Gold Coast from above that everyone can enjoy is with a scenic helicopter flight. Soar gracefully above the skyscrapers and see the gorgeous beaches, the snaking rivers, interconnecting roads and beautiful mountains in the hinterland. It’s a stunning way to see the city and is the perfect tourist activity to get a sense of what the Gold Coast is all about.
3. Tandem Skydiving.
For a more thrilling way to see the revered coastal city from the sky, tandem skydiving is an exhilarating way to combine the two.
Relax and enjoy what is essentially a beautiful scenic flight for the first half of the experience as the plane ascends to cruising altitude. Then before long, it’s time to jump out of a perfectly good plane and freefall 200kph back down to Earth towards the famous Gold Coast skyline before gently touching back down on the beach. It’s, without a doubt, one of the most exciting ways to see the Gold Coast.
4. Tandem Helicopter Skydive.
If you like the sound of a helicopter flight and a skydive but doing both is out of the question, Sea World Adventures offers an epic experience that combines the best of both worlds: a tandem helicopter skydive.
Soar in the airspace above Surfers Paradise and take in the stunning landscape that includes towering skyscrapers, endless beaches, meandering rivers and a vast ocean. Then when it’s time, jump out of the chopper and enjoy an exhilarating 10,000ft freefall, reaching 200kph before landing safely back down on Earth.
Better yet, it truly is a unique experience as it’s the only place in Australia that offers this experience, so it’s something thrill seekers visiting the Gold Coast should absolutely not pass up.
5. Aerobatic Flight.
If all these flights sound exciting, just wait. There is one more exhilarating experience people looking for scenery and thrills need to know about. That’s because it not only takes the cake as the best way to see the stunning coastal city, but it runs away with it.
Gold Coast Airwaves offers spectacular aerobatic flights in the Russian Warbird, the Yak-52. While only one passenger can ride in the plane with the pilot, they get to decide the level of exhilaration they experience.
You want a purely scenic flight. Done.
But if it’s your desire to re-enact an air battle from a war movie and Top Gun, the experienced pilot will happily pull out all the stops. Enjoy an endless barrage of barrel rolls, loop de loops, and figure 8s, which are just some exciting manoeuvres you’ll experience in this epic aerobatic flight.
And doing all that fun stuff with the skyscrapers and beaches in the background, well, it’s definitely one of the craziest and most insane things to do on the Gold Coast. And trust me when I say that is every reason why it’s the absolute best experience you’ll likely have on the Gold Coast. I know it was for me.
And if it’s too intense and you want to ease off doing so many aerobatics, the pilot will do that too. It can be as calm or as extreme as you’d like it to be.
Bonus:
Theme Parks: Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World & Sea World.
Although it’s not entirely on topic and no one goes there exclusively for the view, theme parks are another great place to soak in some scenery.
Head to any of the Gold Coast’s three theme parks, Dreamworld, MovieWorld or Seaworld, and experience the tallest rides they have to offer. They all have fantastic views and are a great way to incorporate sights and exhilarating thrills into one outing.
Gold Coast Lookouts Map.
Gold Coast Lookouts Map.Accommodation: Where To Stay On The Gold Coast.
- Budget: Woodroffe Hotel. Review. Nice city views.
- Mid-Range: Novotel Surfers Paradise. Review. Excellent city views.
- Luxury: Sofitel Broadbeach. Review. Excellent city views.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Where Are The Best Views On The Gold Coast?
Skypoint Observation Deck and SkyClimb at Broadbeach, Tumgun Lookout in Burleigh Head National Park, Canyon Lookout in Springbrook National Park and Mick Schamburg Lookout in Miami have what I consider the best views on the Gold Coast.
Conclusion: Best Gold Coast Lookouts In The City & Hinterland.
Conclusion: Best Gold Coast Lookouts In The City & Hinterland.
Conclusion: Best Gold Coast Lookouts In The City & Hinterland.
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